~ DIY Roofing: Learn From NY's #1 Roofers

Always make sure to find a service that offers the best combination of price and warranty. Always make sure you are receiving a fast & free in-home estimate. Any quality home exterior company will provide Roofing, siding, roof leak repair & gutter cleaning services. If they do not offer one of these services it could be they are not that experienced and should not be hired. That’s because any contractor that’s been around the block a few times will already know how to fix anything related to the exterior of a home. Always make sure your contractor top rated, fully licensed and bonded. Most counties or cities will have contractor license lookup websites that you can easily find on Google. In fact, if you want to really make sure your contractor has experience, I would ask him if he performs all the work in the list below. This is important because if something on the exterior of your home has a rare or unique problem you need to have someone right for the job. Here is the list:

Residential roofing installations, repair and maintenance services

Commercial roofing services

Roofing inspections

Architectural shingle services

Metal Roofing solutions

Plywood repair and replacement services

Complete roof removals

Shingle maintenance and repair services

Skylight installations and repair services

Roof fans and vents

Ridge caps and flashing services

Flashing and fascia roofing solutions

Again, make sure to ask about seasonal and yearly roofing maintenance plans that can save you thousands of dollars when the stormy seasons arrive. Don’t pay now and dream that everything will be fine later. Proper maintenance is the secret to the longevity of a roof. Simple inspections and cleanings can identify issues that can be fixed for cheap at the time yet would cause major damage if a storm hit.

It would also be nice to find an environmentally safe roofer as our earth is important to us. Being Eco-Friendly, providing high quality, great warranties, having great reviews and being affordable are all important aspects to find in your potential roofing company. Good luck in all your renovations and we wish your home all the best.

Roofing protects buildings from outside elements that can severely damage the inside of a home or building. It has to be designed and built well to withstand the wind, rain, sunlight, snow, and hail in your area. Practically every structure depends on a sturdy roof to stay standing and in good condition. There are different designs that are better suited for certain structures. For example, a greenhouse needs a special translucent roof to let the sunlight in while a regular home may need to forgo sunlight so it can be protected against mother nature.

The local weather conditions and other factors will determine your layout style and roofing options on a structure. The three main things to take into consideration when designing a roof are materials, construction, and durability. Your supply options will depend on your location and the construction will depend on the supporting structure. The durability of your roof will be given a lot of attention since this part of your building is harder to access for maintenance. A professional roof inspection will determine if your exterior needs repairs or improvement so schedule them accordingly.

The supportive structure of your building will determine what kind of materials you can use for your roof. A roof has 2 major parts — the outer weatherproofing & membrane layer as well as it’s supports. Depending on your roof design the weatherproofing portion can be self-supporting. Walls are usually the main reinforcement with steel or iron beams adding secondary support. In commercial buildings or factories steel girders or reinforced concrete beams are commonly used. The outermost layer will be determined by the available materials within your locale. Common options include Thatch, slate, shingles, turf, tiles, fiberglass, sheet metal, and many others all available in different styles. GAF roofing materials have been known to withstand the radical NYC weather. It is always recommended to spend a little more money and use the highest quality materials for your exterior.

More detailed considerations will be included in the design along with recommended materials. Examples of such considerations include insulation, energy usage, drainage, and overall costs. Different materials provide their own insulation but additional protection is usually necessary in some states because of weather conditions. To reinforce insulation, roofers usually install plastic sheeting foam, batting, or felt. Other means of improving insulation include reflective surfaces or use of materials with high thermal radiation qualities.

A roof needs to have a good draining system in place to stay useful. Areas with heavy rainfall usually have steeper slopes to prevent water from pooling. Areas with less rainfall usually have more flat schemes and low pitch styles can work in all areas if installed well. Professional roofers determine the pitch by studying and assessing the total rainfall in a year and also account for other environmental aspects.

Traditional roof styles are still very common in several areas but new roof options are quickly catching on, especially green exteriors. One of the best green roofing options involve solar exteriors that can generate electricity. Green exteriors use turf to make a living surface that can minimize the effects of constant exposure to sunlight on your exterior. More commercial buildings are adapting green exterior thanks to the savings it brings from its more efficient design. More and more green options are becoming available all around the world. Make sure to get a good contractor that you can trust and you’ll barely have to think about your roof anymore.

Roofing as well as the complete exterior make-up of a home are big contributors to the greenhouse effect. The way a roof is designed and angled can have a huge impact on how much heat is reflected back to the atmosphere. Moreover, roofing options without proper insulation can increase the energy consumption of a household during extremely hot and cold days. Some of these Eco-Friendly options for your home which we will present below can easily be done yourself if you are handy. Green exteriors which use actual plants can be a lot of fun for DIY’ers and their families. You can all cover the top of your home with lots of greenery together. Other Eco-Friendly options for your home will be a bit trickier and may require the help of a professional licensed contractor.

It is important to choose roofing options that are friendly to the environment. With increasing concern on the effects of greenhouse gasses to the environment, many construction companies have started offering Eco-friendly alternatives for consumers. Whether you are having a new house built or you are undergoing major roofing renovation for an old structure, you might want to consider these Eco-friendly roofing options to lessen your household’s carbon footprint:

Reclaimed Wood or Recycled Shingle Roof

Using recycled materials for your roofing is a sustainable and cost-effective solution. Using biodegradable reclaimed wood or recycled shingles made from a combination of recycled waste like rubber, wood, and plastic are not only cheaper but you’ll also be helping reduce the country’s waste problem. By using recycled materials, you won’t have to tap into new resources to build. If you don’t want to have to deal with the fire hazards of reclaimed wood, recycled shingles have better fire ratings.

Tile or Reclaimed Clay

Tile roofing is a suitable option for houses in warmer climates. Tile is not only extremely durable but because they are dense and heavy, they provide additional insulation for houses.

Since tile and clay tend to be a lot more expensive than other roofing options, a cheaper and greener solution would be to use recycled tiles.

Actual Greenery

True green roofing is not only Eco-friendly but even aesthetically pleasing to look at. A green exterior in an urban area can significantly lessen the heat-island effect. However, since green roofing requires actual plants to be planted on the exterior of your home, you’ll likely need additional support for the weight of these plants. This can be quite expensive especially if you also have to change your roofing structure to accommodate the addition of plants.

Green exteriors have many benefits. Aside from providing excellent insulation, you’ll also benefit from fresher air in your home.

White Roof

It is a known fact that the lighter the color of your roof, the better its insulation properties. Since lighter colors reflect the light from the house, a white roof can significantly lessen your energy consumption on really hot days. When choosing a white roof, however, make sure that the materials are also Eco-friendly. Although the Asphalt market has began to work on greener options many avoid asphalt-roofing materials since they are not recyclable. You can opt for recycled shingles or metal roofing instead.

Rubber

Rubber is perhaps the number one recycled material used for roofing. Shingles made out of reinforced rubber are not only cost-effective but they also provide superior insulation. They also come in a wide-range of colors so you don’t have to limit your style options. Most rubber roofing comes with longer warranty periods.

Before choosing any of the aforementioned roofing options, make sure to check with a green roofing contractor in your county to find out if your home’s structure can support these materials. You should also check if these materials are allowed in your area, especially if you live in cities with strict building codes.

Welcome to the DIY roofing blog. We are proud to present to you the ultimate guide to roofing. We will provide you with hands-on DIY roofing projects and tips. We will teach you how to do it all from fixing leaks to installing flat roofing. We will help you learn the tricks of the trade of gutter and roof-top maintenance. We are a group of professional roofers from the NYC and Long Island area’s of New York State who are dedicated to training amateur roofers to become as good as the pro’s.